Where to you live pops?

Hill Country - NW of San Antonio

This is a great thread. It seems like a majority of the "innovation" in angling kayaks lately has been towards stability, being able to stand, raising the seat position etc. all of which are going to take away from speed and performance. So when an angler comes along and says "I dont care about standing up" Where is the new innovative fishing kayak for this person (I know there's a few)?

I tried a Coosa for a bit and it was cool. But I can stand in my Prowler trident if needed but it took everything I had to keep that Coosa off the bank on a windy day.

The new Ocean Kayak tridents look real nice. The rotating center hatch (cool toy) on those is an ingenious feature I wish I had. If your happy with your pescador a new Tarpon might just be what the Dr ordered. The hull is improved over the older design that was used for the pescadors though I dont know the differences off the top of my head.

Have owned both the Slayer 12 & Cuda 12, neither is exactly fast. But, the lawn chair style seating and stability make up for that. I'm a FOG (fat old guy - over 62 +) I don't try to stand and fish, but I do fish from raised position in the Slayer ( raised position in the Cuda 12 was at least 2 inches higher & less stable) Both are "clumsy on the ground - technique strap through hand hold on opposite side to lift. Loading in truck - awkward from ground - stand in back of truck & lift with strap tied to bow handle, slides right in. Speed vs comfort?

I keep trying knock the Tarpon 120 off my list and it just keeps jumping back on there!
They seemed to have waned in popularity recently with all the cool competition, but still looks like a great rig to me.

Notice that I keep saying "ease and efficiency", which I know translates into one easy word and that word is speed, but just to be clear, it's easy I'm after, not speed. If I want to go fast I'll buy me another Allison. The thing that I'm loving so much about yaking is just touching the water with the paddle and I'm moving. If it gets to be work, I'm gonna lose interest!
I'm not only an "F O G" as was said, I'm a LAZY F O G!
...and will not deny for a second that many times other letters of the alphabet have been substituted!

I bought an RTM Disco from a dear friend that was giving up the sport and moving from the warm waters of south Florida to the much colder waters of Maryland to be nearer his grandkids.

He had demoed the kayak at my suggestion as a boat that would fit his needs. He wanted something lightweight, that was easy to paddle, and enough stability to fish from. Catching fish was not his biggest priority, being on the water and enjoying nature were. He fished but if he didn't catch anything he didn't care, he loved nature and paddling.

I had planned to use it for surfing the ocean as it has some rocker, for fishing when minimal gear was needed, and for guests. Fishing will always be my biggest priority but that kayak was the most fun I ever had just paddling around. With the lightweight carbon paddle that he included you couldn't beat it for ease of movement. It was one of the worst decisions I ever made to sell it to someone that had to have it after she paddled it.

As sit on tops go its a skinny yak by todays standards, not a great fishing platform, but plenty stable for fishing once you get used to it. I never dumped in it nor any of my guests that had never even been in a kayak. Would highly reccomned anyone that is in the 180 lb range and less to give one a ride if you ever get the chance.


First timer in any kayak.


This one thought it was hers until I sold it.


http://www.paddling.net/Reviews/showReviews.html?prod=1989

That's two hot chicks in kayaks! I need to hang with you just for the scenery.

+1

I'd smoke you in the Disco!

Hahaha. Yep...I got no rhythm. Hahaha

Hey Pop efficiency can be measured in how easy it is to get moving, keep moving, keep moving in one direction, and turning. Then throw wind and current in the mix and it also changes from kayak to kayak.

What I was trying to get across is to "DEMO". You might find that you liked how efficient your old kayak felt but the other kayaks you mentioned could feel so much better all the way around you don't notice any change in efficincy. I mentioned the Ride because it's in the class you're looking at and IMO if you're in the market to upgrade you should Demo as many as you can.

Key is DEMO! I don't think you would buy a car without test driving it so why buy a kayak without a demo. Sorry it's hard for you to get a chance to demo but unless you have a $1000+ to throw around on looks I would try to find a way.

Just kidding... I got no Disco or energy.

Good point and he might also consider a rudder. I've never had a kayak with one but if I were using a trailer I'd add a lot of stuff (weight) to my kayak if I didn't have to lift it on and off a SUV.

Thanks Todd. I will!
Please go re-read my earlier reply.
I will demo when I can, in the meantime I'd like to gather as much information as possible. Just like that car you're talking about. Yes, I'll go test drive it; after I've read everything I can get my hands on about it. I'm in a really uncomfortable position here. I'm not used to being an ignorant rookie. I spent a lot of years running performance boats and through that process learned a whole lot. Don't mean to sound like I'm trying to show out but there's not a whole lot of people out there who can set up a boat better than I can. There's a lot of people on the internet who think they can, but not that many who can. Here, I'm still struggling with which end of the paddle goes in the water first. I don't like not knowing what I'm talking about. I'm not used to it. So thanks to all for all the scoop and education. Like I said, this is a priceless brain trust here. I like tapping it. I just want you to know that my interest here is hearing what y'all have to say. Go demo seems to be one of the favorite replies. It's correct and I respect it. Please don't miss however that what I also respect is listening to anybody who knows more about something than I do. You'd be surprised and I'm actually pretty darned impressed with just how much I have learned and how much clearer the picture is becoming. Thanks.

I demoed Cudadude's Santa Cruz last weekend and I have to say that thing is efficient. I am a big fellow 250+ and it was plenty stable and handled my weight well and I felt like I had cruise control in between strokes. It was really cool. The only thing I could ask for is a bigger cockpit and I don't think the average guy would have that need. If you tell him you know where the fish are you might talk him into bringing it down your way.